David Garman

He was born in Thakeham in West Sussex, England, in May 1922.[4]

Garman invented the first portable powered bath lift in 1981 —a lift to assist people with mobility problems getting in and out of the bath.[5]

He was the founder and Chairman of Mangar International Limited, Mangar International (Holdings) Limited and Mangar 2013 Limited.[6][7] Mangar International Ltd now sells bathlifts and other lifting devices to hospitals and care homes across the world, as well as to private and commercial buyers.[8] Mangar is an anagram of Garman.[9]

Garman's inventions consisted of patient lifting and handling equipment now used internationally in private dwellings, day centres, hospitals and care homes, as well as by ambulance services. He invented, designed and manufactured these products through Mangar International Limited which he founded with his wife, Francesca, in 1981. They ran Mangar International Limited, based in Presteigne in Powys, mid-Wales, until he was well into his 90s. It was then sold in January 2014. However, even in his very late 'retirement' he continued inventing right up until his final months. The resulting product development is being carried out through David E. T. Garman Concepts Ltd, which was founded by Garman's family in September 2013. That company is run by Rupert Talbot-Garman, Garman's eldest son, who is also a shipping lawyer. [10]

David E. T. Garman Concepts Limited was named after him and was founded in September 2013.[11][12]

Garman's last invention was the "Air Cradle" patient transfer system, which he co-invented with Austin Owens with whom David E. T. Garman Concepts Limited continues to collaborate.[13][14][15] The "Air Cradle" patient transfer system is an alternative to hoists and slings used in patient transfer.[16][17][18][19][20][21] On 7 May 2019, the AIR CRADLE® Patient Transfer System was short-listed in The Blackwood Design Awards 2019 'BEST NEW CONCEPT' category.[22] On 15 May 2019, the AIR CRADLE® Patient Transfer System was a finalist in The Blackwood Design Awards 2019 - 'BEST NEW CONCEPT' category.[23][24][25][26][27] On 18 February 2020, the AIR CRADLE® Transfer System was short-listed for 'Innovation of the Year' in The National Technology Awards 2020.[28]

He was also the Chairman of M.F.C. International Limited.[7][29][30][31] Prior to acquiring M.F.C. International Ltd (then known as M.F.C. Survival Ltd), Mangar International Ltd had had a working relationship with MFC for over 20 years.[32]

He was a Director of The Radnorshire Wildlife Trust Limited.[33][34]

Garman died in mid-Wales on 4 January 2019.[35][36][37][38] The BBC broadcast a Radio 4 obituary about Garman on 15 and 17 February 2019.[39]

Garman's grandfather was John Reginald Charles Talbot, who was born on 15 November 1861. John Reginald Charles Talbot was the son of John Reginald Francis George Talbot and Sarah Eliza Jones. He married Maria Josephine de Stacpoole, daughter of Reverend George Marie Stanislaus Koska de Stacpoole, 3rd Duke de Stacpoole and Maria Dunn, on 2 August 1887. He died on 5 February 1909 aged 47, having gained the rank of Captain in the 1st Dorsetshire Artillery Volunteers. He held the offices of Justice of the Peace (J.P.) for Dorset and Justice of the Peace (J.P.) for Devon. He also held the office of Mayor of Lyme Regis between 1901 and 1903 and lived at Rhode Hill, Lyme Regis in Dorset, England.

Garman was a descendant of Admiral the Honourable John Talbot, who served in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, who retired to his estate at Rhode Hill in Uplyme near Lyme Regis on the Dorset coast.

On 22 February 1817, Admiral Sir John Talbot captured the French ship Rivoli and was subsequently honoured as a Knight Grand Cross, for his gallantry and distinguished naval service, by King George III and the then Duke of Norfolk, Henry Charles. The Talbot Arms pub in Uplyme is named after Admiral John Talbot and Rhode Hill House passed down through the Talbot family, Garman's mother Celia (known as "Cecily") Talbot being born and living for many years at Rhode Hill. Garman's mother, Celia Mary Gertrude Talbot, was born on 26 April 1891.[40][41]

Admiral the Honourable Sir John Talbot GCB was born a Talbot de Malahide at Malahide Castle near Dublin in 1769 and died at Rhode Hill in Lyme Regis in 1851. Two of Garman's uncles were the 8th and 9th Baron Talbot de Malahide, Reginald Stanislaus Victor Talbot (1897–1975) and Joseph Hubert George Talbot (1899–1987) respectively, brothers of Garman's mother.[42] Garman's father was Captain Edmund Erconwald Garman, the son of Cornelius Edward Garman. Edmund married Celia Talbot, daughter of John Reginald Charles Talbot and Maria Josephine de Stacpoole at the Brompton Oratory in Knightsbridge, London, in 1916. Edmund gained the rank of Captain in the Royal Army Service Corps.

Before marrying Garman, Francesca studied Fine Art at Winchester School of Art and Social Anthropology at St Anne's College at the University of Oxford.[43] Francesca was married to Garman for nearly 50 years and alongside Garman she was a director of Mangar International Ltd for 33 of those years. She is now a director of David E. T. Garman Concepts Ltd, though the Managing & Legal Affairs Director of David E. T. Garman Concepts Ltd is their eldest son, Rupert.

With the support of his nephew, Bernie Kevill (a son of his late sister Elizabeth), Garman was instrumental in the development of affordable housing in Lyme Regis, Dorset, England. He sold very cheaply part of his land on the outskirts of Lyme Regis to Lyme Regis Community Land Trust to build 15 affordable homes. The development sits on Timber Hill and is named Garman's Field because of this.[44][45]

Garman invested heavily in the preservation of flora and fauna in Wales, where he planted one of the largest broad-leaved woodlands of more than 10,000 trees near Llandrindod Wells.[46][47]

In 1981, aged 59, Garman won the HTV Design Award for his first invention, the world's first portable powered bath lift. This award resulted in some publicity but very little financial assistance.

In 2007, aged 85, Garman was awarded the BHTA (British Healthcare Trades Association) Lifetime Service Award for his contribution and dedication to the rehabilitation industry.[48]

Garman was also, aged 92, made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for “services to the healthcare industry” by Queen Elizabeth II in the 2015 New Year Honours.[3][49][50]

In May 2019, some four months after Garman's death at the age of 96, the AIR CRADLE® Patient Transfer System, co-invented by Garman and Austin Owens, was a finalist in The Blackwood Design Awards 2019 - 'BEST NEW CONCEPT' category.[51]

On 22 October 2019, Garman was inducted into the Ambulance Service Hall of Fame for his individual contribution to the safety and well-being of patients.[52][53]

On 18 February 2020, the AIR CRADLE® Transfer System was short-listed for 'Innovation of the Year' in The National Technology Awards 2020.[54]